Textile-conditioning apparatus.



I, E. PALMER;

TEXTILE CONDITIONING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

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TEXTILE CONDITIONING APPARATUS.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1909 Patented May 24, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

TEXTILE-CONDITIONING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Textile-Conditioning Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to textile conditioning apparatus of general application, but is more particularly intended for use in connection with dyeing, starching, washing or other machines for treating textile material, or for the treatment of textile material subsequent or incidental to its treatment by machines for dyeing, starching, washing or similarly acting upon such material.

The invention is more particularly directed to improved mechanism for squeezing or expelling the liquor from the material delivered thereto in band, skein or rope form.

In order that the principles of the invention may readily be understood, I have disclosed certain types or embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of textile conditioning apparatus embodying my invention; F ig. 2 is an end elevation thereof ,Fig. 3 is a detail representing one form of squeeze rolls employed in the practice of my invention; F ig. a is an enlarged section taken longitudinally of the bearing of one of said rolls and representing a form of roller bearing that may be employed therewith; Fig. 5 is a detail in transverse section of the construction shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 7 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but representing a further modified form of my invention; Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of the manner in which textile material in band, skein, rope or similar form is delivered between the squeeze rolls; and Fig. 12 is a detail to be hereinafter referred to.

Apparatus for treating textile material in band, skein or rope form, and usually sub- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ed May 26, 1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Serial No. 498,423.

sequent or incidental to the treatment of such material by dyeing, starching, washing or similar apparatus, have heretofore been provided with squeeze rolls or cooperating squeezing surfaces driven in suitable manner and adapted to have fed thereto textile or similar material in band, skein or rope form in order to expel the liquor therefrom. Such material has been delivered to the squeezing rolls or other surfaces by a guide that has been traversed from end to end of the rolls in such manner as to equalize the wear upon the rolls, or in other words to prevent localized wear. So far as I am aware, however, these guides have been traversed from end to end of the rolls merely for this purpose, the material in band or rope form being fed through the rolls in a thereto by a guide, to which a to and fro motion is imparted lengthwise of the rolls, and that the speed of travel of the rolls and the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide may be so proportioned with relation to each other that the resulting change in direction of the traversed material in passing between the rolls is thereby rendered so abrupt as to maintain a substantially edgewise delivery of the material between the rolls. In other words, the material is delivered between the rolls in a zigzag formation with adjoining branches of such formation acutely inclined with relation to each other. In this manner, I am enabled to drive the squeeze rolls or other squeezing surfaces at a materially lower speed than heretofore, and thus very materially to re duce the wear upon the surfaces of said rolls, while at the same time securing as high or even an increased output of the material from between the rolls. By delivering the material substantially or nearly edgewise between the rolls,that is, by pre senting the material edgewise or substantially so to the action of the rolls,the liqnor is expelled by the rolls from the material in a direction substantially normal to the edges of the material instead of being forced substantially lengthwise thereof into succeeding portions of the material from which it is expelled or driven in a length wise direction as the operation progresses. Thus the liquor is more quickly and more effectively expelled from the material, and the material issues from between the rolls in a drier condition.

Instead of feeding the entire material in a substantially edgewise condition as described, I may, between adjacent branches of the described zigzag formation interpose a short stretch or length of material delivered lengthwise.

It is apparent that the invention may be embodied in various types of apparatus. Preferably and as herein shown I employ squeeze rolls, though I desire it to be understood that in using the term rolls in the specification and claims, I contemplate suitable cooperating squeezing surfaces which may be, for example, inthe form of endless belts or other preferably endless devices to which the material may be delivered in order that the liquor may be expelled therefrom.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and first to the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the framing of the mechanism is represented at 1, it being of any suitable structure adapted to support the operating parts of the apparatus. Mounted in the framing, I have represented a lower squeeze roll 2 adapted to be rotated by power derived from any suitable source, not herein necessary to disclose. The said roll is mounted upon a shaft 3, shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. The said shaft is preferably mounted in a divided bearing box composed of members 4, 5 secured together by bolts 6. WVithin the bearing box I provide a divided bearing casing composed of semi-cylindrical sections 7 and 8 having circumferentially and longitudinally arranged fins or projections 99 and 9-9, shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 5, between which are received lugs 10 projecting from the inner surface of the members 4:, 5 of the bearing box. The said projections and fins cooperate to position the bearing casing, which, however, has capacity for slight movement endwise or circumferentially, so that it may readily and automatically adjust itself when in use. If desired, the contacting portions of the bearing box and bearing casing may be concaved and convexed as represented in Fig. 4. IVithin the bearing casing are provided suitable rotatable bearing members, herein shown as rollers 11, which may be of substantially the length of the bearing casing, or may be shorter as illustrated, and spaced by a web 12.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have represented the squeeze roll 2 as provided with flanges 12 at its ends, it being understood that either one of the squeeze rolls may be so constructed. The surfaces of the squeeze rolls are preferably formed of rubber. Cooperating with and preferably above the squeeze roll 2 is a squeeze roll 13. One or both of said squeeze rolls should in the preferred form of my invention, be yieldingly mounted, so that in the event an unusual thickness of material is presented to the rolls, one or both of them may yield, thus preventing damage to the goods or to the mechanism. Herein I have represented the upper roll 13 as yieldingly mounted, and for that purpose it is shown as provided with bearings with which engage levers 14L1 I having vertically adjustable pivots 15 provided therefor upon the frame. The bearings of the upper roll 13 may be and preferably are of similar construction to those heretofore described with respect to the lower roll 2.

While any suitable means may be provided to cooperate with the lever or levers 14, and thus to hold the upper roll 13 yieldingly and with sufiicient force against the lower roll 2, preferably I provide a system of levers and weights. In Figs. 1 and 2, I have represented at opposite sides of the framing horizontally arranged levers 16 connected by adjustable links 17 to the levers 14. Below the levers 16 and connected thereto by links 18 are horizontally arranged levers 19 also pivoted in the frame, the arrangement shown multiplying the effect of the weights herein represented at 20 as applied to the levers 19 and adjustable along the same in the usual manner. Both springs and weights have been singly employed as substitutes for each other. Weights are capable of being more satisfactorily and accurately adjusted than springs, but are objectionable in that they are without resilience. I have ascertained that I may avail myself of the advantages both of the weight and of the spring by providing the weight with a spring support. This permits the roll 13 to yield to obstructions, which if they were sufiicient to lift the weight would only do so by a jerky action detrimental to the mechanism and to the material subjected to treatment. By employ ing a spring in conjunction with the weight, I overcome the disadvantages incident to the lifting of a dead load and render the action of the parts more elastic.

In Figs. 1 and 12, I have represented the weight 20 as recessed to receive a coil spring 21 bearing at its upper end against a wall of the recess and at its lower end preferably upon a washer 22 interposed between the spring and the lever 19, the washer being preferably provided with projections to engage the usual notches of the lever.

In order to impart a to and fro or traverse motion to the material delivered to the rollers 2 and 13, I have herein represented a guide 23 mounted at the upper end of a lever 24 pivoted at its lower end as at 25 upon the framing of the mechanism. The lever 24: is oscillated in any suitable manner, as by means of a beveled gear 26 mounted upon a shaft 2 and having a crank arm 29 connected to a link 30 which at its opposite end is pivoted to the lever 24. In this manner, the rotary motion of the shaft 3 serves to oscillate the lever 24, thus traversing the material from end to end of the squeeze rolls.

Heretofore traversed guides for squeeze rolls have been so timed in their operation with respect to the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls that although the material is delivered to the rolls in somewhat zigzag form, the angle of adjoining branches of the zigzag is very wide and the material is therefore fed between the rolls substantially lengthwise. In other words, the rate of reciprocation of the guide has been comparatively slow with respect to the rotation of the rolls. In accordance with my invention I impart a rapid to and fro movement to the guide 23 and thus deliver the material to the rolls in a zigzag formation with adjoining branches of the zigzag arranged at an acute angle with respect to each other.

By imparting the described movement tothe guide, the change of direction of the traversed material while passing to or between the surfaces of the rolls is so abrupt as to maintain a substantially edgewise delivery of the material as is apparent from the diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 11. The beveled gears 26 and 27 are so proportioned that the described rapid to and fro movement is imparted to the guide 23. By delivering the material between the rolls in the manner described, it is possible to drive the squeeze rolls 2 and 13 at a lower rate of speed than heretofore, thus subjecting the surface of the rolls to much less wear than heretofore. As heretofore stated, the adjoining branches of the zigzag material are acutely inclined to each other, each branch of the zigzag being inclined less than fortyfive degrees to the axis of the squeeze rolls. Not only is the speed of rotation of the rolls 2 and 13 so proportioned with respect to the rate of traverse of the guide 23 that the material is delivered in the manner described, but the speed of travel of the rolls and the rate of traverse of the guide are also so proportioned that the surface relation of the said rolls to the zigzag lines of contact of the material therewith constantly varies circumferentially of the rolls, thereby preventing localization of wear of the rolls. In other words, upon each succeeding rotation of the squeeze rolls, the material is presented to a diiferent portionof its surface from that to which it was presented by the preceding rotation.

By feeding the material between the rolls in substantially the manner heretofore de scribed and asillustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 11, it will be apparent that each branch of the zigzag formation-is presented substantially edgewise to the action of the rolls. By reason of this fact, the rolls contact first with one edge of the material and express or squeeze out the liquor from such edge toward the opposite edge, that is, crosswise of the material along lines substantially normal to the edges instead of substantially lengthwise of the fabric. Were the material presented substantially lengthwise to the rolls, the latter would act to force or expel the liquor longitudinally of the material, simply drivii'ig' it from that portion of the material between the rolls into succeeding portions thereof instead of expelling it from edge to edge. It is apparent that by expelling the liquor in the manner herein disclosed, it is more readily and quickly driven from the material, which therefore issues from the rolls in a drier condition.

In stating that the adjoining branches of the zigzag formation are acutely inclined with respect to each other, I desire it to be understood that I thereby include devices wherein a single branch of the zigzag formation, laid substantially edgewise as described, may be immediately followed by a short portion delivered wholly lengthwise or substantially so, such lengthwise section being immediately followed by another branch of the zigzag formation laid substantially edgewise and oppositely inclined, such branch being immediately succeeded by another short portion delivered lengthwise, and so on. This may readily be effected by imparting to the guide a traverse longer than the length of the squeeze rolls, while at the same time preventing the material from passing beyond the ends of the rolls by guide pins or other suitable means, so that upon the return traverse of the guide the succeeding and so-called adjoining branch is separated from the preceding one by the described lengthwise portion.

Instead of providing one of the rolls with flanges as represented most clearly in Fig. 2, I may provide other guiding means at one or both ends of the rolls. In Figs. 6, S, 9 and 10, I have represented guiding rolls 31 arranged at each end of the squeeze rolls, preferably upon vertical axes, said rolls being herein shown as mounted in yokes 32 pivoted at 33 to the framing of the mechanism. Preferably the yokes are connected I together, as for example by bolts 34; between the heads or shouldered portions of which and the yokes I may interpose elastic washers 35 or other resilient means, thus permitting slight yielding of the yokes to undue obstruction. By removing the bolts 34, either guide roll may be swung out of operative position to afford access to the squeeze rolls or for other purposes.

Instead of employing squeeze rolls of the character illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and which are preferably provided with rubber faces, I may employ metallic or other suitable rolls 36, as indicated in Fig. 7, and mount thereon sleeves or endless bands 37 of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of said rolls, said bands being made of any suitable substance, such for example as rubber or felt. By this construction, I am enabled to provide squeezing devices of greater circumferential area without increasing the diameter of the rolls themselves, which indeed may be of less diameter than those wherein a rubber facing is provided tightly inelosing the rolls, or wherein the rolls are wholly made of some suitable material, such as rubber. It is, of course, apparent that in the event of-employing sleeves or bands37, I may employ end guiding rolls, such construction being represented in Fig. 6.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that by my invent-ion I am enabled to drive the feed rolls at a lower rate of speed than heretofore, thus saving wear thereon while at the same time operating upon an equal or greater amount of material than heretofore. Moreover, I am enabled to express the liquor from the material in an edgewise direction, and thus to remove it more rapidly and satisfactorily than heretofore. At the same time, I prevent localization of wear upon the rolls by so propeltioning the speed thereof with respect to the rate of traverse of the guide that each succeeding rotation of the rolls presents a different surface for the reception of the material.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

1. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of contacting squeeze rolls for operating upon wetted bands or ropes of material narrow in comparison with the length of said rolls to expel liquid therefrom and to discharge the said material, driving means for one or both of said rolls, a guide for directing said wetted band or rope of material between said rolls and traversing means for said guide,

the speed of travel of said rolls and the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide being so proportioned with relation to each other that the change in direction of the traversed material in passing between the said rolls is thereby rendered so abrupt as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, whereby the liquid is expelled substantially crosswise therefrom.

2. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of cooperating, contacting squeezing surfaces for operating upon wetted bands or ropes of material narrow in comparison with the length of said squeezing surfaces to expel liquor therefrom and to discharge said material, driving means for one or both of said surfaces, a guide for directing said band or rope of material between said surfaces, and traversing means for said guide, the speed of travel of said surfaces and the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide being so proportioned with relation to each other that the material is delivered between the surfaces in zigzag formation with adjoining branches thereof acutely inclined toward each other, thereby to expel the liquid from said material when in said zigzag formation.

3. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of contacting squeeze rolls for operating upon wetted bands or ropes of material narrow in comparison with the length of said rolls to expel liquor therefrom andto discharge said material, driving means for one or both of said rolls, a guide for directing said band or rope of material between said rolls, and traversing means for said guide, the speed of travel of said rolls and the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide being so proportioned with relation to each other that the material is delivered between the rolls in zigzag formation, each branch of the zigzag being inclined less than forty-five degrees to the axis of the said rolls, thereby to expel the liquid from said material when in such zigzag formation.

4. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of contacting squeeze rolls for operating upon wetted bands or ropes of material narrow in comparison with the length of said rolls, to expel liquor therefrom and to discharge said material, driving means for one or both of said rolls, a guide for directing said band or rope of material between said rolls, and traversing means for said guide, the speed of travel of said rolls and the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide being so proportioned with relation to each other that the change in direction of the traversed material in passing between the rolls is thereby rendered so abrupt as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between said rolls, thereby to expel the liquid from the material substantially crosswise thereof, the speed of travel of said rolls and guide being also so proportioned that the surface relation of the rolls to the zigzag lines of contact of the material therewith constantly varies circumferentially of said rolls, thereby preventing localization of wear.

5. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of contacting squeeze rolls for operating upon wetted bands or ropes of material narrow in comparison with the length of said rolls to expel liquor therefrom, and to discharge said material, driving means for one or both of said rolls, a guide for directing said bands or ropes of material between said rolls, and serving to feed the material in rope or band form between the rolls, and traversing means for said guide, the speed of travel of said rolls and the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide being so proportioned with relation to each other that the material is presented substantially crosswise to the action of the said rolls, whereby the liquor may be expelled from the material in a direction substantially normal to the edges thereof instead of being forced substantially lengthwise thereof.

6. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, rotating means therefor, a guide to direct material between said rolls, means to impart a to and fro movement to said guide longitudinally of said rolls, the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls being relative slow compared with the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide, thereby to change the angle of forward direction of the traversed material so abruptly in passing through the squeeze rolls as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, and guiding means at at least one end of said rolls.

7. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, rotating means therefor, a guide to direct material between said rolls, means to impart a to and fro movement to said guide longitudinally of said rolls, the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls being relatively slow compared with the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide, thereby to change the angle of forward direction of the traversed material so abruptly in passing through the squeeze rolls as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, and guiding rolls at the ends of said squeeze rolls.

8. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, rotating means therefor, a guide to direct material between said rolls, means to impart a to and fro movement to said guide longitudinally of said rolls, the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls being relatively slow compared with the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide, thereby to change the angle of forward direction of the traversed material so abruptly in passing through the squeeze rolls as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, and a guiding roll at at least one end of said squeeze rolls and with the axis thereof substantially normal to that of said squeeze rolls.

9. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, rotating means therefor, a guide to direct material between said rolls, means to impart a to and fro movement to said guide longitudinally of said rolls, the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls being relatively slow compared with the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide, thereby to change the angle of forward direction of the traversed material so abruptly in passing through the squeeze rolls as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, guiding rolls at the ends of said squeeze rolls, bearing frames for said guide rolls, and means to connect to gether said frames.

10. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, rotating means therefor, a guide to direct material between said rolls, means to impart a to and fro movement to said guide longitudinally of said rolls, the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls being relatively slow compared with the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide, thereby to change the angle of forward direction of the traversed material so abruptly in passing through the squeeze rolls as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, guiding rolls at the ends of said squeeze rolls and hinged bearing frames for said bearing rolls.

11. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, driving means therefor, a sleeve mounted upon at least one of said rolls and of greater internal diameter than the external diameter thereof, and a guide to direct material between said rolls.

12. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, rotating means therefor, a guide to direct material between said rolls, means to impart a to and fro movement to said guide longitudinally of said rolls, the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls being relatively slow compared with the speed of the to and fro movements of the guide, thereby to change the angle of forward direction of the traversed material so abruptly in passing through the squeeze rolls as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, and means for securing a resilient yielding engagement between said squeeze rolls, said means comprising a weight operatively connected to one of said rolls, and a spring carried by said weight and constituting a yielding support therefor.

18. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, rotating means therefor, a guide to direct material between said rolls, means to impart a to and fro movement to said guide longitudinally of said rolls, the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls being relatively slow compared with the speed of the to and fro movements of the guide, thereby to change the angle of forward direction of the traversed material so abruptly in passing through the squeeze rolls as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, one at least of said squeeze rolls being yieldingly mounted, a weight operatively connected to said yielding roll, and a spring interposed between said weight and its support.

M. Textile conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a pair of squeeze rolls, rotating means therefor, a guide to direct material between said rolls, means to impart a to and fro movement to said guide longitudinally of said rolls, the speed of rotation of the squeeze rolls being relatively slow compared with the speed of the to and fro movement of the guide, thereby to change the angle of forward direction of the traversed material so abruptly in passing through the squeeze rolls as to maintain a substantially crosswise delivery of the material between the rolls, one at least of said rolls being yieldingly mounted, a lever operatively connected to said yielding roll and adapted to be lifted thereby, a weight upon said lever and a spring interposed between said lever and its weight.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscriblng wltnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER.

Witnesses:

FRED. E. FOWLER, REUBEN M. BURR. 

